Description

If you have some inner, unfulfilled need to impress a crowd, the Nexus 5-stack is the big show in a small package that’s guaranteed to dominate the beach. Of course, in a breeze you’ll be leaving mile-long tracks in the sand so they’ll be hard-pressed to get your autograph, but life could be a lot worse.

Your own personal kite festival comes pre-assembled and ready to rock, with matching tails and a cool zippered case that lets you keep the kites fully assembled for quick setup and take-down.

Tips & Resources

How hard does it pull?

The Nexus 5-stack can pull like a train on a windy day, certainly enough to drag you down the beach and strengthen your back muscles.

How easy is it to set up?

Compared to most stacks, setup is a cinch because the kites come already connected with stack lines pre-tied. The zippered storage bag holds your 5 kites flat with standoffs removed, so setup is as simple as plugging in the standoffs and connecting your flying lines.

Is flying a stack harder than flying a single kite?

Not at all, except in stronger winds when the stack can pull hard enough to drag you around. With more bridle lines to get tangled in a crash, be sure to check your stack for snagged bridles before every launch.

Framed sport kites have a fixed wing shaped by lightweight sailcloth stretched across a rigid fiberglass or carbon fiber frame. They are typically more responsive and a little more challenging to fly, but they’re capable of a wide variety of tricks once you learn basic control. Trick flying with framed kites gets addictive- with a good kite you can enjoy years of fun mastering more and more challenging tricks like back flips, somersaults, snap stalls and radical landings.

Foil kites are made from fabric only, with inflatable chambers that create a wing shape from air pressure in the air inlets as they fly. They are similar to paragliders and ram-air parachutes in their construction. Ram air foils are not as responsive and maneuverable as framed kites, but they are more forgiving, require no assembly, and have no rigid parts that could be damaged in a hard crash. While larger foils can pull incredibly hard in stronger winds, they can’t do the wide range of aerobatic tricks that a framed kite can. So they’re better suited for the fun of getting pulled around in stronger winds, or learning two-line basics with a forgiving wing that will put you in control as quickly as possible.

Are small kites easier to fly?

Small kites are faster, more responsive, and typically require more wind. That makes them more challenging for beginners learning the basics, even though smaller kites typically cost less. Full-sized kites like the Quantum are easier to learn with because they take larger motions and respond more slowly. They’re also more stable in light winds, with a stronger pull that helps send feedback down the line as you practice finer control. Larger kites are easier to learn tricks with by giving you more time to react and more stability.

How do you control a two-line kite?

2-line kites fly on two control lines about 100’ long. The lightweight, delta-shaped wing is designed to drive forward in the wind while you steer it around the sky by pulling or releasing the control lines. A small pull turns left or right, while a big pull will put the kite into a loop or a spin. Some 2-line kites can fly faster than 50 mph in a strong breeze (the world record for a kite is 108 mph). As you get the hang of steering you’ll be able to maneuver through high speed, precision passes, tight spins, trick landings and a wide variety of aerobatic tricks.

How long does it take to learn?

Learning to fly a two line kite is like riding a bike; once you get the hang of it you never forget. In moderate, smooth wind, most people get basic control figured out in a half hour or so.

What happens if you crash?

Our beginner oriented sport kites are designed to take a beating as you learn how to avoid those unplanned landings. Intermediate and advanced designs use lighter weight, higher performance frames that can be easier to break, but allow finer control and a crisper feel in even the very lightest winds.

Can you adjust the bridle for different winds?

Your framed sport kite is set up to fly best in moderate winds from 8-12 mph, and the bridle doesn’t need to be adjusted for a good basic wind range. As you get to know your kite, you can fine tune the bridle for lighter and stronger winds and adjust how fast it flies, how hard it pulls and how tight it turns.

Can you fly a framed kite with a tail?

You sure can. A long tube tail makes a spectacular show in the sky as it traces your path through loops, ground passes and figure eights. Tails take a bit more wind but make strong winds easier by slowing the kite down and reducing the pull.

How do you fly multiple kites in a synchronized stack?

Most framed kites can be flown in a synchronized stack of 2, 3, or more by connecting them at the spine and leading edges with five equal-length stacking lines. The optimal stack line length varies by kite size and model. Stacking lines are available in accessories.

The Nexus 5-Stack and the Micron 5-Stack are pre-made stacks, rigged and ready to fly with special carrying bags that allow you to store the kites flat without detaching any lines. The custom bag makes setup and takedown a cinch.

How long should lines be for 2-line kites?

Most sport kites fly best on lines from 65 to 120 feet long. Shorter lines are better for light winds, longer lines give you a bigger wind window in stronger winds. Light lines as thin as 50# test reduce drag for light winds but can break in strong winds. Heavier lines handle more pull, but add weight and drag in light winds. Experienced kiters collect a range of different strengths and lengths to cover every condition.

Prism kites come equipped with lines in good all-around lengths and strengths for normal conditions. If the wind is strong enough they can break in a gust, but they’re light enough to perform well in light winds as well.

Where can I learn Sport kite tricks?

Our Freestyle Pilot video is a complete course in freestyle tricks that will take you from the basics to the most challenging landings and tumbling moves.

What lines should I use?

Most multi-line kites fly best on braided Spectra fiber or Dyneema lines. Both names refer to a high performance, super strong polymer used in bulletproof vests and aerospace applications. It’s stronger by weight than steel, with a slippery surface that keeps your lines from binding against each other with multiple twists. It’s also very low stretch, giving you direct fingertip control of your kite.

Some sport kites come with braided polyester rather than Spectra lines. Polyester is stretchier and costs less to manufacture. The stretch and additional drag of a polyester line can make a small, fast kite more forgiving for beginners. Once you’ve got the basics you can always upgrade to Spectra lines to give any kite a performance boost.

How much wind do you need?

We make sport kites that fly in a huge range of conditions, from a roaring nor’easter to no wind at all. We even make kites you can fly indoors, simply by walking slowly backwards through the air. But beware, if you catch the kiting bug you might soon find yourself with a full collection of different kites, so you’ve got a favorite for whatever mother nature throws your way.

What’s your best framed 2-line kite for beginners?

For more than a decade the Prism Quantum has set the gold standard for a durable, versatile all-around sport kite that can take what you dish out as a beginner, but keep you challenged and learning as you progress all the way into freestyle tricks. It’s big enough for stability and a wide wind range, and provides great feedback with an impressive pull when the wind comes up. An elastic shock absorber in the tail soaks up those unplanned landings, and extra reinforcements in the spars give them a long life.